Complexation of well-controlled low-molecular weight polyelectrolytes with antisense oligonucleotides

The influences of polymer-related properties such as molecular weight, charge density, counter ion, and hydrophilic block on the complexation of polyelectrolytes and a fluorescein-labeled oligonucleotide (ON) were investigated. A series of well-defined and well-controlled 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) polymers and block copolymers were prepared using living anionic and radical polymerization methods. Fluorescence measurement was used to reveal the effects of polymer molecular weight, charge density, and counter ion type on the complexation. PolyDMAEMA samples having double molecular weights of the chosen oligonucleotide gave the optimal complexation performance. Kinetic studies showed that high-molecular weight/high-charge density polymer samples produced very stable complexes. The fully charged polyDMAEMA displayed the strongest binding with the ON. These complexes were therefore less sensitive to the changes in the environment. PolyDMAEMA–DMSQ samples had slightly higher complexation ability than polyDMAEMA–MCQ (DMSQ: dimethylsulfate quat; MCQ: methylchloride quat). Both poly(DMAEMA-b-HEMA) and poly(DMAEMA–MCQ-b-PEG) block copolymers showed good complexation ability and steric stability [HEMA: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate; PEG: poly(ethylene glycol)]. PEG, but not HEMA block, enhanced the effectiveness of polyDMAEMA–MCQ binding with the ON.     

Derivatization of carboxylic acids with 9-bromomethylacridine using micellar phase-transfer catalysis

Summary Micellar phase-transfer catalysis (MPTC) offers the opportunity to derivatize carboxylic acids directly in an aqueous matrix without prior extraction of the acids into a suitable aprotic solvent. The currently developed MPTC system consists of a non-ionic surfactant, Arkopal N-130, an ion-pair agent, tetrakis-(decyl)-ammonium bromide, and a novel fluorescence reagent, 9-bromomethylacridine. The MPTC system can be applied to the derivatization of many types of carboxylic acids. The reaction rate is affected by the lipophilicity of the acid and by the presence of other functional groups. For lipophilic carboxylic acids the reaction is complete within 5 min at 60°C and pH 7.0.     

Vibrational spectra of compounds Ln2MoO6 and Ln2WO6

The vibrational spectra of compounds Ln₂WO₆ and Ln₂MoO₆ (Ln = lanthanide, including Y and Bi) are reported. Neglecting details it is possible to assign the internal vibrations of the molybdate and tungstate group. The results are in agreement with the structural data known up till now and suggest further that tungsten in the unknown Y₂WO₆ structure is in six-coordination, that Bi₂MoO₆ shows still another modification than koechlinite and that vibrational spectroscopy may yield additional structural information for compounds like those under consideration.     

Bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene,a new oxidant in potentiometric titrations

A new oxidimetric titrant, bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodobenzene is proposed for potentiometric titrations in acetonitrile and water-acetonitrile media. The general analytical conditions for using this titrant and the results for the potentiometric titrations of various inorganic and organic reductants are described.     

Thermal properties of polypropylene post-consumer waste (PP PCW)

Differential scanning calorimetry has been used to study the heat flow during melting and crystallisation of a range of polypropylene post-consumer waste (PP PCW) grades and blends. The heat flow curves and the heat capacity curves indicated that the PP PCW grades and blends contained contaminants even after manual sorting and a cleaning process. The enthalpies of the PP PCW grades were lower than that for the virgin grades, as a result of degradation. Small amounts of polymeric contaminants (up to 10%) did not affect the enthalpies of PP PCW although other contaminants may have had some effect. The enthalpies of the PCW blends could in general be predicted by a linear additive rule, which is of importance for recycling a variety of PP PCW products.The authors would like to thank Dr. M. Killen (Basell Australia Pty. Ltd.), Mr. P. Slaven (Citiwide MRF), Dasma Valley Waste Prop. Ltd. and Mr. I. Janetzki (Huhtamaki Australia Ltd.) for supplying materials for this project. Financial support for the project was provided by Basell Australia and Ecorecycle Victoria, Australia.     

Assessment of drinking water radioactivity content by liquid scintillation counting: set up of high sensitivity and emergency procedures

In our institute, different procedures have been developed to measure the radioactivity content of drinking water both in normal and in emergency situations, such as those arising from accidental and terrorist events. A single radiometric technique, namely low level liquid scintillation counting (LSC), has been used. In emergency situations a gross activity screening is carried out without any sample treatment by a single and quick liquid scintillation counting. Alpha and beta activities can be measured in more than one hundred samples per day with sensitivities of a few Bq/L. Higher sensitivity gross alpha and beta, uranium and radium measurements can be performed on water samples after specific sample treatments. The sequential method proposed is designed in such a way that the same water sample can be used in all the stages, with slight modifications. This sequential procedure was applied in a survey of the Lombardia district. At first tap waters of the 13 largest towns were examined, then a more detailed monitoring was carried out in the surroundings of Milano and Lodi towns. The high sensitivity method for the determination of uranium isotopes was used to check the presence of depleted uranium in Lake Garda. Reduced equipment requirements and relative readiness of radiochemical procedures make LSC an attractive technique which can also be applied by laboratories lacking specific radiochemistry facilities and experience.     

Thermostability of landscape phage probes

Immunoassays have traditionally relied on antibodies as diagnostic probes. Their use outside of a laboratory, however, may be problematic because antibodies are often unstable in severe environmental conditions. Environmental monitoring requires thermostable probes, such as landscape phage, that carry thousands of foreign peptides on their surfaces, are superior to antibodies, and can operate in non-controlled conditions. While parent wild-type phage are known to be extremely stable in various media at high temperatures, no work has been done to demonstrate the stability of landscape phage probes. We examined the thermostability of a landscape phage probe and a monoclonal antibody specific for -galactosidase in parallel in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format. They were both stable for greater than six months at room temperature, but at higher temperatures the antibody degraded more rapidly than the phage probe. Phage retained detectable binding ability for more than six weeks at 63 °C, and three days at 76 °C. The activation energy of phage degradation was determined to be 1.34×10⁵ J/mol. These results confirm that phage probes are highly thermostable and can function even after exposure to high temperatures during shipping, storage and operation.     

Finite extensibility and orientational effects in rubbers. A physical interpretation of the ‘van der Waals equation’ for the elastic force

We propose a physical interpretation of the so-called van der Waals equation of state for rubbers, which gives a relation between the force and the deformation. On a phenomenological basis this equation takes the finite extensibility and a non-defined interaction into account. Here the fininte extensibility is discussed for the dilute case (no entanglements) and the highly entangled limit. The intramolecular interactions are described by orientational effects. The resulting equation of state for the force shows the same features as the van der Waals equation.Dedicated to Prof. H.-G. Kilian on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Einige Aspekte der Quantitativen Röntgenemissionsanalyse Leichter Elemente bei Anregung Mit Schweren Teilchen

The aim of the paper is the simplification of calibration procedures in the investigation of multi-element-systems by calculating calibration curves. This requires, as well as taking into account the measuring geometry and the detector properties, above all the calculation of the number of the characteristic X-rays emitted by the sample per incident particle. For the calculation of the thick target yield a computer programme has been developed which makes possible a simple exchange of subroutines describing the stopping power of the sample, the cross-section of K-shell ionization, the fluorescence yield and the matrix absorption for the resulting K-X-rays of the elements contained in the sample. The agreement between experiment and calculation is discussed, when various approximations for the functions mentioned are used, as well as the possible influence of the grain size and surface roughness of the samples on the measurements, on which the calculations are based.